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Multifidus muscle
Deep muscles of the back. (Multifidus shaded in red.)
Sacrum, dorsal surface. (Multifidus attachment outlined in red.)
Latin	musculus multifidus
Gray's	subject #115 400
Origin	Sacrum, Erector spinae Aponeurosis, PSIS, and Iliac crest
Insertion	spinous process
Artery
Nerve	Posterior branches
Action	Stabilizes vertebrae in local movements of vertebral column

The multifidus (multifidus spinae : pl. multifidi ) muscle consists of a number of fleshy and tendinous fasciculi, which fill up the groove on either side of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, from the sacrum to the axis. The multifidus is a very thin muscle.

Deep in the spine, it spans three joint segments, and works to stabilize the joints at each segmental level.

The stiffness and stability makes each vertebra work more effectively, and reduces the degeneration of the joint structures.

These fasciculi arise:

• in the sacral region: from the back of the sacrum, as low as the fourth sacral foramen, from the aponeurosis of origin of the Sacrospinalis, from the medial surface of the posterior superior iliac spine, and from the posterior sacroiliac ligaments.
• in the lumbar region: from all the mamillary processes.
• in the thoracic region: from all the transverse processes.
• in the cervical region: from the articular processes of the lower four vertebrae.

Each fasciculus, passing obliquely upward and medialward, is inserted into the whole length of the spinous process of one of the vertebræ above.

These fasciculi vary in length: the most superficial, the longest, pass from one vertebra to the third or fourth above; those next in order run from one vertebra to the second or third above; while the deepest connect two contiguous vertebrae.

Multifidus lies deep to the Spinal Erectors, Transverse Abdominus, and Internal/External Obliques. Therefore due to recent clinical research it may not be stimulated during abdominal bracing.(Similar feeling when you're bracing for a punch) Research shows that Abdominal Hollowing may stimulate the multifidus region more effectively by (drawing the navel to the spine). This can most effectively be peformed when the controlled exercise is worked in the transverse plane. Stimulating a muscle like the Multifidus, it is best to focus on isolating from the inside out. 12 weeks of abdominal hollowing, followed by continuous abdominal bracing.

Additional images

The posterior divisions of the sacral nerves.

External links

• LUC mult
• multifidus+muscle at eMedicine Dictionary
• Duke Orthopedics multifidus_1
• Cross section at UV pembody/body12a
• PTCentral
• Dissection at ithaca.edu

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

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Wikipedia content modification information:

• This page was last modified on 13 October 2008, at 21:35.

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